my investigation, Laci's pregnancy was normal. There were several notations about her excessive weight gain, and she was advised to watch her diet and increase her level of exercise. On November 6 and again on November 8, Laci called the doctor's office. "She said she was experiencing shortness of breath after a twenty minute walk and was concerned. She was advised to eat first and take the walks later in the day," the record stated.
Laci was described as a social drinker, yet she apparently stopped drinking once she became pregnant. She had no known enemies, did not use illicit drugs, and had no history of mental illness. A police check showed that Laci had never been the victim of a violent crime. However, friends revealed that her high school sweetheart had "pushed her" once during an argument-and when the police examined the relationship further, it was apparently more violent than Laci ever admitted. Early in the investigation, Brent Rocha would tell police about this troubled relationship and ask them to investigate. In a twist of irony, that boyfriend, William "Kent" Gain, later attempted to murder another girlfriend. By the time Laci disappeared he was incarcerated in a Washington State Prison, serving a fifteen-year prison term for the crime. Gain would later send heartfelt missives to a Laci Peterson tribute website, professing grief and love for his former girlfriend. Even today, he reportedly keeps pictures of Laci posted in his cell.
Laci Peterson, then, had already endured one encounter with domestic violence. Yet, as the Department of Justice's missing person report pointed out, even though "persons close to her believed under normal circumstances she would have physically resisted an assault . . . her advanced stage of pregnancy and resultant limitations would have likely hampered any attempt to defend herself."
In November, Laci began attending a maternity yoga class, which met Mondays at noon. People in the neighborhood told investigators that they saw her walking her dog during that period, but as the pregnancy advanced, Laci complained of exhaustion. Relatives told police that she even used a wheelchair while visiting Disneyland with Scott's parents and half sister, Anne Bird, although Bird would later say this chair was just a gag to please Laci.
In our interview, Anne told me that Laci looked radiant during that trip. She was excited about having the baby and talked a lot about how much she loved her mother, Sharon. Anne first met Laci in March 1998, about seven months after the wedding. She liked her immediately. Laci filled up the room, loved being the center of attention, and rarely let anyone else get a word in edgewise. Like Laci's other girlfriends, Anne agreed that Laci did boss Scott around. And, like those women, Anne wished she had a husband like Scott, who did everything his wife told him with a smile.
Anne also attended Laci's baby shower, along with nearly fifty other women. At one point, she recalled, Laci was stifling laughter over a close friend of Jackie's who turned up in go-go boots. Anne recognized the woman from several pictures hanging in Jackie's house. "Weird people," she mouthed to Anne, as her sister-in-law tried to keep a straight face.
By the time the due date approached, Scott and Laci were spending money quite freely. They went all-out decorating the inside of their home, splurging on new furnishings, especially in the nursery. From the outside, however, the house looked unkempt and in need of repairs.
Scott still played golf regularly, and when his parents ponied up the $23,000 admission fee on December 1, he joined the Del Rio Country Club. (The $390 monthly dues were Scott's responsibility.)
The couple enjoyed entertaining. Their friends knew Laci to be a gourmet cook. According to her friends, Laci put a great deal of effort into her appearance. Spa treatments, manicures, and pedicures were part of her normal routine. She also loved shopping, and was described as
Laci was described as a social drinker, yet she apparently stopped drinking once she became pregnant. She had no known enemies, did not use illicit drugs, and had no history of mental illness. A police check showed that Laci had never been the victim of a violent crime. However, friends revealed that her high school sweetheart had "pushed her" once during an argument-and when the police examined the relationship further, it was apparently more violent than Laci ever admitted. Early in the investigation, Brent Rocha would tell police about this troubled relationship and ask them to investigate. In a twist of irony, that boyfriend, William "Kent" Gain, later attempted to murder another girlfriend. By the time Laci disappeared he was incarcerated in a Washington State Prison, serving a fifteen-year prison term for the crime. Gain would later send heartfelt missives to a Laci Peterson tribute website, professing grief and love for his former girlfriend. Even today, he reportedly keeps pictures of Laci posted in his cell.
Laci Peterson, then, had already endured one encounter with domestic violence. Yet, as the Department of Justice's missing person report pointed out, even though "persons close to her believed under normal circumstances she would have physically resisted an assault . . . her advanced stage of pregnancy and resultant limitations would have likely hampered any attempt to defend herself."
In November, Laci began attending a maternity yoga class, which met Mondays at noon. People in the neighborhood told investigators that they saw her walking her dog during that period, but as the pregnancy advanced, Laci complained of exhaustion. Relatives told police that she even used a wheelchair while visiting Disneyland with Scott's parents and half sister, Anne Bird, although Bird would later say this chair was just a gag to please Laci.
In our interview, Anne told me that Laci looked radiant during that trip. She was excited about having the baby and talked a lot about how much she loved her mother, Sharon. Anne first met Laci in March 1998, about seven months after the wedding. She liked her immediately. Laci filled up the room, loved being the center of attention, and rarely let anyone else get a word in edgewise. Like Laci's other girlfriends, Anne agreed that Laci did boss Scott around. And, like those women, Anne wished she had a husband like Scott, who did everything his wife told him with a smile.
Anne also attended Laci's baby shower, along with nearly fifty other women. At one point, she recalled, Laci was stifling laughter over a close friend of Jackie's who turned up in go-go boots. Anne recognized the woman from several pictures hanging in Jackie's house. "Weird people," she mouthed to Anne, as her sister-in-law tried to keep a straight face.
By the time the due date approached, Scott and Laci were spending money quite freely. They went all-out decorating the inside of their home, splurging on new furnishings, especially in the nursery. From the outside, however, the house looked unkempt and in need of repairs.
Scott still played golf regularly, and when his parents ponied up the $23,000 admission fee on December 1, he joined the Del Rio Country Club. (The $390 monthly dues were Scott's responsibility.)
The couple enjoyed entertaining. Their friends knew Laci to be a gourmet cook. According to her friends, Laci put a great deal of effort into her appearance. Spa treatments, manicures, and pedicures were part of her normal routine. She also loved shopping, and was described as
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